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Analyzing Annals: Overuse of Testing in Preoperative Evaluation
and Syncope: A Survey of Hospitalists

Analyzing Annals: Overuse of Testing in Preoperative Evaluation
and Syncope: A Survey of Hospitalists

Unnecessary testing wastes limited resources and may expose
patients to harm. Physicians
responding to this survey reported substantial overuse of
testing despite clinical guidelines and evidence, often motivated
by a desire to provide reassurance to patients, family members, or
themselves.

Use this Annals of Internal Medicine study
to:

Generate a differential diagnosis of syncope. What are the
features of neurocardiogenic syncope?

What studies should be ordered in which patients? Do all
patients with syncope require an ECG? An echo? Which ones require
neurologic testing?